Odd-even air valve system



1956 B. JUNGE ETAL ODD-EVEN AIR VALVE SYSTEM Filed Jan. 5, 1966INVENTORS NE JUNGE L ASTAUFFER BJAR RUSSEL ATTORNEY United States Patent0 3,288,393 ODD-EVEN AIR VALVE SYSTEM B arne hinge, Los Gatos, andRussell A. Staufier, San

Jose, Qalifl, assignors to international Business Machines Corporation,Armonlr, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 3, 1966, Ser. No.518,418 6 Claims. (Cl. 243-1) This invention relates to pneumaticconveying systems in general and more particularly to a pneumaticconveying system for use in transporting carriers to and from a largefile of carriers stored in drawers which are selectively positionedrelative to file pneumatic access channels.

Recently, several large scale information storage and retrieval systemshave evolved. In one recently developed system, a number of informationbearing chips are stored in individual cells. The cells are transportedbetween their respective files and an I/O station through pneumaticconveying tubes. In the file itself, a number of cells are stored inrectangular matrix form in drawers. Each drawer includes both cellpockets for loosely supporting the cells and at least one column ofempty cell pockets which are enlarged to provide access pockets whichallow passage of cells through them. The drawers are stacked to make afile. When the drawers are at the home position, all of the accesspockets are in alignment so that a column of access channels is providedup through the file. When a cell is to be accessed, its drawer is movedso that the cell is positioned in alignment with a file access channeland air is applied to cause it to move up through the file. Only theaccess channel with which the desired cell is aligned will have airapplied to it. In larger files of this type, a number of columns ofaccess channels is utilized to reduce the extent of drawer movement. Amore detailed description of this type of file will be found in Us.patent application Serial No. 423,015 entitled, Air Flow Control andCell Deflector Blade System with Direct Access Matrix File, filedJanuary 4, 1965, assigned to the assignee of the subject invention.

T o expand the storage capacity of an information storage and retrievalsystem of the type heretofore described, additional files are addedrather than the adding of drawers to a single file. The adding of files,however, has been costly from the standpoint of systems throughput. Thereason for this is that the same air supply which is used to lift aselected cell from the file, is also used to propel the cell downthrough the systems pneumatics which includes a common tube portionadjacent the I/O terminal. This arrangement results in, first, a lack ofsufficient velocity through the common tube portion of the system. Thislack of velocity is due to the loss of air in the file itself. This lossresults from the relatively loose fit which exists between the drawerswhich must be provided to allow movement of the drawers relative to eachother. Secondly, the file itself is necessarily tied up and cannot berepositioned until the cell has been received at its destination sincethe air supply, as heretofore stated, which propels the cell downthrough the systems pneumatics, originates below the file and passes upthrough the file, through the access channels which the cell passesthrough.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel pneumatic airvalve system for use in selective accessing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new pneumaticsystem for transporting carriers between .a file, through a common tubeportion and an I/O unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new pneumaticsystem wherein the pneumatic source which lifts carriers from a file isreplaced, after the carrier has entered the file pneumatic systemeffectively with an independent pneumatic source.

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Another object of the present invention is to provide a new air valvesystem for selectively applying air to one of two file pneumatic tubesto cause a carrier to be transported from the carrying tube.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following more particular description of the preferredembodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric View illustrative of the file pneumatic system ofa prior art system which may be utilized in conjunction with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway View of a pair of file I/O tubes, an air selectorvalve and an object selector valve;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the air selector valve and object selectorvalve of FIG. 2 in reverse position to that of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a linkage and actuator which may beutilized to position the air selector valve and object selector valve ofFIGS. 2 and 3.

Briefly, each file accessing channel is connected to a file pneumatictube. The file pneumatic tubes are connected in pairs at one extremity.An air selector valve and an object selector valve are connected to theopposite extremity of each pair such that air may be applied to eithertube. A cell is transported from an associated file which may be of thetype wherein selected cells are pneumatically lifted from an associatedfile up into one of the two tubes in the pair through a file accessingdeflector valve. After the cell has cleared the deflector valve, thedeflector valve is shut and air is applied to the other file tube of thepair to propel the cell out through its file I/O tube through the objectselector valve to the common pneumatic tube. If the cell had beenreceived in the other tube of the pair, the object selector valve andair selector valve would have been reversed such that air would havebeen applied to cause the cell to move out of the other tube. To returna cell to the file, the above sequence is reversed.

For a more detailed description, refer first to FIG. 1. The particulartype of file which is utilized is not important from the standpoint ofthe subject invention. As is obvious, the main criteria is that a cellmust be delivered into one of the two tubes of the pair of file I/Otubes. A cell can be delivered into one of the two tubes in variousways. However, the subject pneumatic valve system has been successfullyutilized in conjunction with a file of the type as shown and describedin the aforementioned patent application Serial No. 423,015. Forpurposes of clarity, there is shown in FIG. 1, a schematic of the threedimensional file of this patent application. In FIG. 1, the drawers ofthe file which are positioned to place cells in accessing relationshipto the access channels are not shown for purposes of simplicity. In FIG.1, three columns of accessing channels 2, 3 and 4 are provided in thefile I. These channels are, of course, formed by the through pockets ofthe drawers. As shown in FIG. 1, the drawers of the file must all be atthe home position to provide the through channels up through the file.Additionally, the drawers would be six cell pockets in width since theyare six pneumatic accessing channels in each of the accessing columns 2,3 and 4. The drawers, as described in the patent application, may bepositioned such that any cell can be brought into alignment with any ofthe access channels of the file 1. A pressurized air supply isselectively connectable to an air supply valve 5 such that pressurizedair may be applied through the valve 5 into the channel 6. Air valvemeans are provided such that the air supply through valve 5 may beconnected to any one of the file access channels. As further describedin the aforementioned patent application, the file accessing channel towhich air is applied and with which a desired cell is in alignment has acell and air deflector valve which is selectively operable to allow itto communicate with its file I/O tube. Thus, a given cell may be causedto move from its tray, up through the file access channels into theupper deck designated generally at 7 which consists of, as shown in FIG.1, three sets of file I/O tubes 8, 9 and 10. Each set has two file I/Otubes which are connected by means of the air selector valves and objectselector valves of FIGS. 2 and 3 to a file common I/O tube 11.

For a more detailed description of the pneumatic system and valve, refernext to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 is shown two file tubes and 21 which areconnected at one extremity 22 to each other, and at the other extremityare connected to an air selector valve generally designated at 23, andan object selector valve generally designated at 24. The object selectorvalve 24 has its opposite extremity 25 connected to the file common I/Ochannel (not shown) while the air selector valve 23 has its oppositeextremity connected to a source of air through tube 26. Intermediatetheir extremities, the file I/O tubes 20 and 21 are connected to atleast one deflector valve generally designated at 27. A detaileddescription of this deflector valve 27 will not be included. Theoperation of the valve is such that when it is in the position as shownin FIG. 2, a cell 28 may be received from or returned to its associatedfile access channel while when it is closed, it pneumatically seals itsassociated file access channel from the file I/O tubes 20 and 21. A moredetailed description of a valve similar to that of valve 27 will befound in a co-pending U.S. patent application assigned to the assigneeof the subject invention entitled Pneumatic Carrier Selector Valve,Decelerator and Hold Mechanism, Serial No. 388,377, filed August 10,1964.

The air selector valve 23 contains an air deflector blade 29 whichpivots around a pin, not shown, at point 30. In the position as shown inFIG. 2, the air from the tube 26 enters the chamber 31 of the airselector valve in the direction as shown by arrow 32, over the blade 29through the channel member 33 and out of the window 34 into the upperfile I/O tube 20. When blade 29 is positioned as shown in FIG. 2, theobject selector blade 35 of the object selector valve 24 is at itsuppermost position as shown in FIG. 2. The blade 35 has its extremity 36against the stop 37 of the object selector valve such that a path isprovided from the lower file I/O tube 21, through the object selectorvalve and out the file common tube through opening 25.

The air blade 29 is caused to move into the position as shown in FIG. 2by selective rotation of shaft 38 while the object selector blade 35 iscaused to move into the position as shown in FIG. 2 by rotation ofsleeve 39 affixed thereto. In operation, air is applied through tube 26which passes through the housing 31 and is directed by means of theblade 29 and channel 33 through window 34 into the file I/O tube 20. Theair then passes down through the tube 20 as shown by the arrowassociated with tube 20, around the connecting end 22, into file I/Otube 21 only when valve 27 is closed. When a cell 28 has been positionedin the file I/O tube 21, the file deflector valve 27 is closed such thatits associated file channel is sealed from the file I/O tube 21. Whenthis occurs, the pneumatic pressure from file tube 20 then passesthrough file tube 21 conveying the cell out through the file tube 21,through the object selector valve 24 and out the opening 25 to the filecommon I/O channel.

In FIG. 3, the air selector valve 23 and object selector valve 24 areshown in the other extreme position from that of FIG. 2. Thus, as shownin FIG. 3, the air blade 29 has been rotated up so that the air from thetube 26 is directed through a lower window, not shown, into the lowerfile I/O tube 21 while the object selector blade 35 has been pivotedsuch that a cell from the upper file I/O tube 20 is directed downthrough the object selector valve 24, through the opening 25 into thefile common I/O tube or channel.

A butterfly valve 26A is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 which is operable toblock the pneumatic supply from the air selector valve 23. Thisbutterfly valve is, when carriers are to be transported from the filetubes to the common file I/O channel, in the position as shown in FIGS.2 and 3 such that the pneumatic supply is connected to the air selectorvalve 23. However, when a carrier is returned from the common file I/Ochannel, it is transported by means of its own pneumatic supply upthrough the object selector valve into the selected file tube, thepneumatic supply must be effectively disconnected from the air selectorvalve. Thus, butterfly valve 26A is operable during this returnoperation to effectively disconnect the pneumatic air supply from theair selector valve 23.

In FIG. 4 is shown a mechanism for selectively operating the objectselector valve 24 and the air selector valve 23. A solenoid actuator 40is provided with an actuator line 41 to which is applied electricalcontrol signals. The shaft 42 of the solenoid 40 is pivotally connectedby means of a pin 43 to linkages 44 and 45. Linkage 45 is pivotallyconnected by means of a pin 46 to arm 47 which is fixedly connected tothe rod 38 which drives the air selector blade 29. Linkage 44 ispivotally connected around. pin 48 to arm 49 which is fixedly connectedto sleeve 39 which drives the object selector blade 35. The mechanism ofFIG. 4 is shown in the position that it assumes when the blades are inthe position of FIG. 2. When the rod 42 is caused to move to the right,the object selector blade and air selector blade are moved into theposition as shown in FIG. 3.

For purposes of simplicity, the description of the subject pneumaticvalving system has been, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, of a single pair of filetubes being served by the object selector valve and air selector valvecombination. However, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, inan actual system, undoubtedly more than a single pair of file tubeswould be utilized. In the larger system, a single object selector valveand air selector valve could still be utilized. In the larger system,one tube of each pair of tubes would be connected by means of a manifoldswitch to what corresponds in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the tube 20 while theother tubes of the pairs would be connected by means of a secondmanifold. switch to tube 21. The manifold switches then would beoperative to connect the object selector valve-air selector valve to aselected pair of file tubes. A manifold switch which is ideally suitedfor this type of application is shown and described in U.S. patentapplication Serial No. 490,040 entitled Pneumatic Carrier AccessingSystem, filed September 24, 1965, assigned to the assignee of thesubject invention.

In summary, each file accessing channel is connected to a file pneumatictube. The file pneumatic tubes are connected in pairs at one extremity.An air selector valve and. an object selector valve are connected to theopposite extremity of each pair such that air may be applied to eithertube. A cell is transported from an associated file which may be of thetype wherein selected cells are pneumatically lifted from an associatedfile up into one of the two tubes in the pair through a file accessingdeflector valve. After the cell has cleared the deflector valve, thedeflector valve is shut and air is applied to the other file tube of thepair to propel the cell out through its file I/O tube through the objectselector valve to the common file I/O channel. If the cell had beenreceived in the other tube of the pair, the object selector valve andair selector valve would have been reversed. such that air would havebeen applied to cause the cell to move out of the other tube. To returna cell to the file, the above sequence is reversed.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in the form and detailsmay be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system wherein carriers are transported from a file through aselected. one of a pair of file deflector valves, a pneumatic valvingsystem for mechanically and pneumatically connecting said file deflectorvalves to a common file I/O channel, said pneumatic valving systemcomprising:

first and second file tubes pneumatically connected at one extremitythereof;

said first and second file tubes being operatively connected to one ofsaid file deflector valves;

a pneumatic supply; and

means connected to the other extremity of said first and second filetubes operable to selectively connect said file tubes to said pneumaticsupply and said common file I/O channel.

2. The pneumatic valving system of claim 1 wherein, when a carrier is inone of said file tubes and said carrier is to be transported to saidcommon file I/O channel, said means connected to the other extremity ofsaid file tubes is selectively operable to connect the said file tubehaving a carrier in it to said common file I/O channel and the other ofsaid file tubes to said. pneumatic supply.

3. The valving system of claim 1 wherein, when a carrier is to betransported from said common file I/O channel into one of said filetubes, said means connected to the other extremity of said file tubes isoperable to connect to said common file I/O channel to said one tube andis further operable to effectively disconnect the pneumatic supply fromthe other of said file tubes.

4. The pneumatic valving system of claim 1 wherein, when a carrier is tobe transported from either of said file tubes to said common file I/Ochannel, said. means connected to the other extremity of said file tubesincludes an object selector valve which is operable in a first positionto connect said first file tube to said common file I/O channel andoperable in a second position to connect said second file tube to saidcommon file I/O channel and further includes an air selector valveoperable in a first position to connect said second file tube to saidpneumatic supply and. operable in a second position to connect saidfirst file tube to said pneumatic supply.

5. The valving system of claim 1 wherein when a carrier is to betransported from said common file I/O channel to one of said file tubes,said means connected to the other extremity of said file tubes includesan object selec tor valve which is operable in a first position toconnect said first file tube with said common file I/O channel andoperable in a second position to connect said sec ond file tube withsaid. common file I/O channel and further includes means for effectivelydisconnecting said pneumatic supply from said first and second filetubes.

6. The valving system of claim 4 wherein said object selector and airselector valves are ganged such that when said object selector valve isin its first position, said air selector valve is in its first positionand when said object selector valve is in its second position, said airselector valve is in its second. position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,710,728 6/1955Halpern 243-31 2,719,681 10/1955 Haberkorn 243--31 3,260,474 7/ 1966Geist 243-49 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A SYSTEM WHEREIN CARRIERS ARE TRANSPORTED FROM A FILE THROUGH ASELECTED ONE OF A PAIR OF FILE DEFLECTOR VALVES, A PNEUMATIC VALVINGSYSTEM FOR MECHANICALLY AND PNEUMATICALLY CONNECTING SAID FILE DEFLECTORVALVES TO A COMMON FILE I/O CHANNEL, SAID PNEUMATIC VALVING SYSTEMCOMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND FILE TUBES PNEUMATICALLY CONNECTED AT ONEEXTREMITY THEREOF; SAID FIRST AND SECOND FILE TUBES BEING OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID FILE DEFLECTOR VALVES; A PNEUMATIC SUPPLY; ANDMEANS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER EXTREMITY OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FILETUBES OPERABLE TO SELECTIVELY CONNECT SAID FILE TUBES TO SAID PNEUMATICSUPPLY AND SAID COMMON FILE I/O CHANNEL.